Bush withdrawing troops

Who else agrees this is nothing but a politics taking place right here? That he is only doing this because of elections...making the Rebuplicans look good...and then if McCain is elected...more troops will be deployed?

I do think it's politics, but I find it unlikely, at THIS juncture, that any more troops will be deployed the way they did last year with the Surge.

I'll believe it when I see it.

I think it's all a publicity stunt.

the draw down is on a schedule. we'll know fairly soon if it was merely a political move.

I'm in the middle with politics...i'm a little left but military so I usually go by their issues...

but after i've seen everything the Republican party has done to try and win this election, I REFUSE To vote for them. Pick a woman merely to get hillary voters. The woman is rediculous, inexperienced, and stands for some horrible issues. Every add I see put out there is NOT advertising McCains issues...but downing Obama...its sickning. I'v enever seen a dirtier election..but ofc i'm only 19.

It's only because Obama suggested it. Thats what I heard a few timess on pundit talking points on the Clinton news network.

#5 is also what was repeated many times at the DNC.

I hear this troop 'withdrawl' will bring the numbers down close to what they were when we were before the 'temporary' troop surge.

I say pull out completely, now. Let the implosion of Iraq commence. Although it is much less likely to implode now vs a year ago.

it's pretty well known that the draw down was coming, guys, political conventions aside.

That's why Obama's response today to the news is that we're not going to Afghanistan quick enough.

The news I heard on my Canadian station was 8,000 troops out of Iraq by February, increased presence in Afghanistan.

One is no better than the other.

Just my $.02

Original Post by glinda:

The news I heard on my Canadian station was 8,000 troops out of Iraq by February, increased presence in Afghanistan.

One is no better than the other.

Just my $.02

The only troublemakers left in Iraq are Al-Quds (Iranian Special Forces) and those being paid by Iran to be there.

Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are all but entirely marginalized. Both are regrouping in Pakistan and Afghanistan at the moment.

Which is why the increased push into those regions.

As for Iraq, the Iraqi military is standing on it's own, but it still needs the US for logistical support. Which is why they're also getting ready to make some big purchases.

The troop levels (including draw downs) are on schedule, and have been planned for well over a year.

As for Afghanistan and Pakistan...

it should go pretty well considering the current counter-insurgent strategy in place, which is more about breaking up insurgent control (of jobs and security) and replacing it with a viable alternatives.

that way they can't re-arm and re-populate their ranks. by removing forced cooperation, every act the terrorists commit that deprives the population of life or necessities drives the wedge between them further. and once the fear is surmountable the population themselves begin to stand up and assist.

but they'll never really be able to stop the suicide style attacks, beyond making it difficult to find volunteers. if you generally feel good about your future prospects, you're not going to offer yourself up as a bomb.

 

My point was actually that pulling troops out of somewhere to put them somewhere else that is not any safer or better is not really an improvement.

Although the battle needs to be waged in Afghanistan a war is a war is a war.  (or an action or an operation or whatever you want to call it).

Ah, on that point I agree. We can't afford to fund yet another war that has negative returns, but unfortunately the alternative isn't any better.

thanks for filling in the blanks, Ig. was too embroiled in the 'guys lie' thread to form a proper response. :)

The withdrawal was part of the plan when the 'surge' started (Feb. 2007) - but this past spring, Bush agreed with a timeline time horizon and last month the Iraqi president said that they would like us to please leave

I don't think anybody is talking about "pulling out completely now"

removing combat troops within 16 months in a responsible and orderly fashion is about as exciting as you'll get

however

barack obama is your new bicycle

john mccain is your jalopy

He's withdrawing them from Iraq and deploying more to Afganistan....

I'm sorry.... but what happend to the supposed weapons of mass destruction that we went in all gung ho looking for in the first place....\

this is very much so a polictical stunt on the behalf of the republican party.... move over everything they criticized Obama for they have become....

they criticized his lack of experience.... they get a severly inexperienced vp.... they criticize his celeberty support and yet more and more each day.... Palin beomes the republican rock star.... have you heard the latest campaign.... "the original mavericks...." so celeberty like to me.... screw the campaign this has become an all out popularity contest with the rich on top by sheer availability of funds!!!

but what happend to the supposed weapons of mass destruction that we went in all gung ho looking for in the first place....

They're already said there were no WMDs. This happened a couple years ago....

To paraphrase the great, in my opinion, Steve Earle.... " they're just another poor boy off to fight a rich mans war". If there was any justice in this world a lot of politicians, both in the US and the UK would be facing criminal charges for the Iraq fiasco. Unfortunatley history is written by the victors, and here is a prediction for you: The whole Iraq adventure will be hailed a success in a few years and the fact that the disaster was caused by a few multi billionaires planning around a table will be conveniantly forgotten by mainstream pundits. Congratulations to all those in the US who have spoken up to expose the lie. You are a credit to your great nation.